Apparatus for producing sheets and similar articles electrolytically



Aug. 28,' 1928.

J. c. F. A. SCHUTTE mlmnus son rnonucma sugars um snumm ARTIcLas ELnc'rRoLYTIcALLY 2 Sheets-Sheet l lilla! Aug. 2s, lsza l l1,682,426

J. C. FEA. SCHT'I'E APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING SHEETS AND SIMILAR ARTICLES ELEGTROLYTICALLY Filed Oct. 5, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 28, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHANN CARL FRIEDBIGH ALBERT SCHITTE, F ALTDOB1?,` SWITZERLAND.

r.APPARATUS FOB. PBODUCING SHEETS AND SIMILAR ARTICLES ELECTROLYTICALLY.

Application :tiled October 6, 1927,5eria1 No. 2249438,and in Germany December 29, 1925.

The present ,invention-relates t-o improvements in apparatus for electrolytic ro duction of sheets and similar articles rom orcs containing metals, metal waste and the like,- and its primary feature consists in providing special agitating means for the purpose of impartingto the electrolyte a strong circulation and a distinct direction of flow in order to obtain dense and uniform deposition of the metal. This motion of the electrolyte can be effected by any suitable'nieans, for instanceby means of shafts.

provided with blades or equivalent stirring devices. The ore or the like to be treated is deposited in a cage, through which thel electrolyte is passed, dissolving the metal and precipitating it in the desired form on the cathode.

In order to fully describe the invention and to explain the mode of o eration and the details of the apparatus, re erence is had to the drawings in which Figure 1 is a vertical section through the apparatus,

Figure 2 a horizontal section on line 2`2 of Figure 1, and

Figure 3 a vertical section through a modified 'form of the apparatus..

" `The apparatus shown in Figures and.'

2 consists of a circular or polygonal vat 1 made of wood, stonewareor the like, whose inner walls are covered with a lead-lining 2. The latter constitutes the cathode, electric current bein admitted to it througha lead 4. On`the ottoni` of the vat is provided alead plate'll, to which no current "is supplied, and whicholate is placed in such amanner that a h `underneath it, within which the sludge ow space remains formed durin the electrolytical treatment, is collected. shaft 6 provided with blades '5 is arranged within the vat 1 and journaled in the cover .7 ofthe said vat. Concentrically to the shaft 6 are arranged aninner `cylinder 8 and an outer cylinder 9 made of lead or any other suitable metal, said cylinders being provided with perforations 8 and 9 respectively. The two lead cylinders 8 and 9' are firmly mounted between two circular discs 10 and 11 the upper one of which is provided, with a neckringr 10', by means of which the cage formed by the cylinders 8, 9 and the' discs 10, 11 can 'be suspended'from a socket or hollow shaft 13 by pins 12, said shaft being rotatably mounted in the cover 7. At the upper end of the shaft 13 a bevel gear wheel ,14 is rigidly keyed, meshin' with a bevel` gear wheel on a shaft 15. e latter is-journaled in. a bearing support 17 mounted on the cover 7 of the vat. On the outer end of the shaft is mounted a belt'puulle it is driven byA a belt 19 from a beltpulley 20 arranged on the transmission shaft 21. 'On the shaft 6 Imounted to rotate in the socket 13 is keyed a bevel gear wheel 22, meshing with another bevel gear wheel 24 mounted on a shaft 2 3. The shaft 23 is joui'naled in a support 25 likewise arranged on the coveror lid 7 of the vat. The said shaft is provided at its outer -end with a belt pulley 26 and derives its rotary movenient through a crossed belt .27 and belt pulley 20 arranged on the transmission shaft 21. Upon the cage 8, 9, 10 and 11 a circular `disc 29 of copper is mounted, on which slides a copper brush 30c0nnected with the positive pole of a source of electric current,.while the lead lining 2 of the vat, serving as cathode, is connected with the negative pole of said source of current by conduct-or 4.

The operation of the 'apparatus is as follows: v

The ore, material containing ore or waste 31 to be treated, is placed between the two concentrically arranged cylinders 8 and 9.

18 and After the electric current'is connected they electrolyte thoroughly agitated bymeans of the blades 5 provided on the rotating shaft 6 is uniformly admitted to the ore 'or the like through the perforations 8 in the cylinder to the cathode 2 where a uniformdep'osit of the metal is obtained. l

According to the modification shown .in

Figure 3 the cylinders8 and 9 aresuspendedi independently of one another, and the outer cylinder 9 is secured to a disc 33 provided with a sleeve 32, by means of which and a pin lock 34 it is connected with the hollow shaft 13 that is rotatably mounted on the lid 7.` A hollow shaft 35 is rotatably mounted within the Vhollow shaft 13. To the shaft/ is connected, by pins 36, the hollow bossyextension 61`of the plate 60 of the inner cylinder 8. The plate 60 receives current from the plate 33 throu h a sliding spring 35. The shaft 6 exten through the hollow shaft 35. The shaft 6 and the cylinders 8, 9 are actuated by the transmission shaft 21, viz: the shaft 6 through the bevel gear wheels 22, 24, the belt pulleys 26 and 28 and the crossed belt 27; the cylinder 8 through a bevel gear wheel/37 mounted on the hollow shaft 35 connected with said cylinder, said wheel 37 meshing with a bevel gear wheel 38 provided on a shaft 39 journaled in the caring su port 38B. The shaft 39 is driven by the sha t 40 through a'tansmission gearing 40, 41. The cylinder 9 is actuated by the bevel gear wheels 14, 16 through the belt pulleys 18, 20 and the belt 19. A clutch 42 permits the shaft' 40'* to be disconnected from the driving pulley 26.`

According to the modification represented in Figure 3 the cylinders 8 and 9 are independent ot' one another. yIn order to stop the cylinder 9 while the cylinder 8 and shaft V6 continue their rotation, 'idle pulleys 18 and 20 respectively are arranged on the shafts 15 and 21 respectively. If, however,

it is desired to stop the cylinder 8 while the cylinder 9 and shaft 6 continue to rotate, the clutch 42 provided on the shaft 23-for this purpose, is disengaged. It is obvious that both cylinders 8, 9 can be held stationary, while the shaft 6 is moving. If it is desired to rotate the cylinders 8 and 9 in the same direction, the crossed belt 27 is removed and replaced by an open one.

Through the arrangement according to the invention a high density of the decomposed 1metal is attained, and through the stron 'action of the moving electrolyte a fine an smooth structure on the cathode. This arrangement will dispense with the tedious and expensive melting and metallurgical processes hitherto always employed in the manufacture of sheets of metal, and these latter are produced in a finished state in a single operation.

1. In ap aratus for producin sheets and similar articles electrolytically, t e combination with a casing of any suitable form, serving as cathode, means for stirring lthe electrolyte and arranged in said casing, an anode-casiiig-containing the ore o r the other material to be treated electrolytically, said anode-casing surrounding the stirring. means and having perforations through which the electrolyte Aacting on the ore or the like is forced by said agitating means, and means for actuating said agitating means.

2. In ap aratus for producing sheets and similar articles electrolytically, the combination with a casing of any suitable form, servi,ee2,42e e ing as cathode, and provided on its inner surface with a lead-lining, a power-actuated rotating agitating device provided with fans and arranged in said casing, a perforated metallic anode-casing serving as container for the material to be treated electrolytically said anode-casing consisting of an inner and outer Wall provided with perforations and provided with a bottom plate and lead plate for the purpose of leading the current to Said anode-casing, said casing adapted to be rotated about the agitating device in a direction opposite to the agitating device, and means for actuating the agitating device and the anode-casing.

3. In ap aratus for producing sheets and similar articles electrolytically, the combination with a metallic cathode connected with the positive poleof a source of current, a power-actuated rotary agitating device arranged within the said cathode, an anodecasing containing the ore or the Vlike to be treated electrolytically, said casino' adapted to be rotated about the agitating daevice and rotating in the direction opposite to that of the agitating device, and means for actuating the agitating device and the anode casing;

4. In apparatus for producin sheets and similar articles electrol tically, t e combination with a casing o any suitable form, `serving as cathode and rovided on its in-. ner surface with a metal 'c lining, a poweractuated rotar I agitating device arranged within said cathode; an anode-Casin serving as container for the ore or the li e tol be treated electrolytically, said casing adapted to be rotated about the agitating device in a direction opposite to that of the said a tating device, means for actuating the ano e- 'casing, a bevel gear wheel arranged on the upper end of the agitating shaft, a second bevel ear-wheel ymeshing with said bevel gear-w eel and being driven by a crossed agitating device, a bevel gear-wheel connected with said anode-casing by means of two pins, said gear-wheel bein actuated by another beve gear-wheel w ich is driven by means of an open belt, and means for actuating the agitatin device. 'In testimony w ereof I name to this specification.

JOHANN cAiu. i-'iiirniucu maar sciim.

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